Gramercy Arms, who we first mentioned in 2008 (the same year they last released anything and when we caught them at Bowery Ballroom with Nada Surf and Delta Spirit), "is a revolving New York based collective of musicians and artists, masterminded by main songwriter/producer Dave Derby (Dambuilders/Lloyd Cole) along with Rainy Orteca, Sean Eden and Kevin March. The group is releasing its second full-length record, The Seasons of Love, on Reveal Records on July 21st."

The Rough Trade show is their record release show and will feature: Kevin March (drums), Sean Eden (guitar), Rainy Orteca (bass), Carl Baggaley (keyboards), Claudia Chopek (violin), and Kendall Meade and Renee LoBue guesting on backing vocals. They have no other scheduled dates at the moment. You can watch their new video for "Always in Love", below...

As we hated announcing, Sharon Joneswas recently diagnosed with stage-one bile duct cancer which caused her to cancel a bunch of shows and delay a new album release. We're now happy to say that last night Sharon said she is "Out of surgery, and I am feeling better than I ever expected. The nurses at the hospital are taking care of me and I am feeling so grateful." One day earlier she posted the above picture with the message "In the waiting room about to go into surgery. Thank you all for your love and support. Pictured above me is the Dr. who created the medical procedure that will get me healthy again!" That came shortly after "Today is the day of my procedure. Thank you friends, fans and family, I'm nervous, but I feel strong because of your love and support."

The soulful sounds of the great Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings return with Give The People What They Want, the new album which will see the light of day August 6 via Daptone Records. The announcement comes with an appropriately funky new single in "Retreat!" -- streaming below. The cover art, which you can see above, includes a photo taken by BV photographer Kyle Dean Reinford.

SJ's dates this summer are rather limited thus far, but you can catch the singer next weekend in Brooklyn at the sold-out The Great GoogaMooga on May 19. All tour dates are listed below.

As mentioned, soul singer Charles Bradley will release his new album, Victim of Love, on April 2 via Daptone Records, and is set to support it with a tour that hits NYC on May 16 at the Apollo Theater. When we first mentioned that show back in January, there was no ticket info, and now there finally is: Tickets go on Ticketmaster/Fan Club presale today (2/21) at 10 AM (password: "CBRAD") and general sale begins Saturday (2/23) at noon. We're also giving away a pair of tickets to the Apollo Theater show, and details on how you can enter to win are below.

Charles' tour has been expanded a bit since we last spoke, and it now also includes a trip to Austin for SXSW, where he will play the first ever DapTone Records Super Soul Revue SXSW showcase on March 14 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, The Budos Band, Menahan Street Band, The Sugarman 3, and The Como Mamas.

The flyer for the SXSW show, an updated list of dates, contest details, and a stream of "Strictly Reserved For You" from Charles' new album, below...

Soul singer Charles Bradley is set to release Victim of Love on April 2 via Daptone Records, the followup to his 2011 debut, No Time For Dreaming. Like his first album, the first single from the new one, "Strictly Reserved For You," delivers a slice of '70s-era soul with the kind of authenticity that sounds like no time has passed since that era. You can stream that track, and check out the album's cover art and tracklist below.

Charles will be supporting the new record on a tour with His Extraordinaires that hits NYC on May 16 at the Apollo Theater. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet but you can check ticketmaster for updates.

A list of all tour dates, song stream, cover art, and tracklist below...

The history of The Impressions is a timeline that spans almost the entire course of rock & soul music. As most of you already know the group counted both Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield within their ranks over the last half century. They are blessed to have founder members Fred Cash and Sam Gooden still onstage and sounding great.... Pulling from a repertoire that includes doo-wop, gospel, civil rights anthems and "blaxploitation" soundtracks the trio gave a guided tour of how their songs have become entwined in American culture. "It's Alright", "Gypsy Woman", "Keep On Pushing", "Superfly", "People Get Ready", "Choice of Colors", "Move On Up", "We're A Winner" - you get the picture. I think the phrase "achingly beautiful" could have been coined to describe "I'm So Proud". -[SkeletonPete]

The show was a rare teaming of performers and opened with Binky accompanying singer Inyang Bassey, and included the DJ stylings of Pari, Honky, Mr. Robinson, and Eli "Paperboy" Reed. Here are some pictures and a video. It all continues below...

"In what may be Soul music's most exciting collaboration of the year, Rock'n Roll Hall of Famers THE IMPRESSIONS will team up with Brooklyn's BINKY GRIPTITE and the Dee-Kays, a group of musicians featuring members of the Dap-Kings, for a unique Soul revue showcasing two of the best acts of the genre's history, bringing together two generations. This is a rare chance to hear some of the greatest Impressions hits, such as "Keep on pushing," "Choice of Colors", "We're a winner" and of course "People get ready," all performed by the group's original members Fred Cash, Sam Gooden and Reggie Torian (who replaced former lead vocalist Curtis Mayfield in the early 1970s), backed by the mighty DeeKays. If you have always wondered what it was like to see the Impressions during their prime in the 1960s, this show is a must for you! "

"I hope people don't expect a lot because all I do is go out there and be me," [Sharon Jones] says. "The band comes out, they introduce me, I come out, I dance, I sing, I interact with the audience. I love when I can get people up to dance. I dance, I jump around. I don't know. I just be guided. Before I go on that stage every night I have that prayer. Me and my girls say a prayer with me before I walk on, I say that extra prayer. That prayer is: "Give me the right things to say, Lord. The right things to come out of my mouth." And that's what I do." [Syracuse New Times]

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings play their last of four NYC shows (seven NY shows total) this evening (12/14). Like last night, they're back at Bowery Ballroom. Their first two shows were at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and one day after those they played the seated Tarrytown Music Hall with the Starlight Girls. Here are some pictures from that one.

While the Budos Band (and special guest TBA) are ringing in the new year in Williamsburg, Dig Deeper will be presenting Lee Fields & the Expressions along with Sugar Pie Desanto over at the Bell House for a soul party closer to Park Slope. Tickets are on sale.

Ends up the occasion for the shows is that Daptone Records is celebrating 10 years, and that presale comes with some special merch that marks the occasion....

Join Daptone Records this December to celebrate their 10th anniversary with four very special performances by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, with support from special Daptone guests (to be announced - stay tuned!) in New York City. Choose your tickets and combine them with one of our 3 exclusive 10th Anniversary bundles below for one all-in, fan-only price!

Tickets must be collected from the venue's Will Call window the evening of the show. All merchandise will be shipped on November 1st.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings have been making booties shake across the continent and will continue to do so through the bulk of the fall, eventually looping back to New York for SEVEN shows, FOUR of which are in NYC. On December 6th and 7th the band will hit Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Then after shows in Tarrytown, Oneonta & Syracuse, they return to the city to play December 13th and 14that Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for all four NYC shows go on AmEx presale at noon on Wed (10/5) with regular sale hitting two days later. All dates are listed below.

Lee Fields & The Expressions are headlining a benefit show at Brooklyn Bowl on Monday night (9/26). Tickets can be had for as low as $15 and as much as $100. Proceeds support NYC's non-religious suicide hotline run by Samaritans of NY. Corey Glover (Living Colour), Danielia Cotton, and The Smyrk are also on the bill. It's one of only three upcoming shows right now for Lee. The other two are in Chicago and Michigan and are listed below.

Other upcoming Daptone-related shows include the previously-mentionedCharles Bradley show at Bowery Ballroom in December (tickets), and the not-yet mentioned Budos Band show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on New Year's Eve (with "very special guests to be announced"). Tickets are on sale.

One thing I can assure you is that the MHOW NYE special guest is not Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings who are due to announce another NYC show of their own soon. Meanwhile they have scattered tour dates scheduled, some with My Morning Jacket. All dates for all of them, below...

I followed the music and ended up in the middle of the park, surprised that there weren't too many people there- maybe a few hundred? He deserved a few thousand, at least. During his last song there were flashes of lightning illuminating the night sky followed by a torrential downpour at the end of the song. Some ran away, some (including me) ran for a few small tents that were set up for the sound guys and stayed for the encore song (undoubtedly worth it- wet clothes dry but his voice will stay in my mind forever).

Even from a ways away, I could see his bright smile and feel the positive energy shooting out of him. He was wonderful and the kind of singer who's meant to be heard live, in his element there. I feel so lucky that I heard even a few of his songs in person. -[blogonlyknows]

Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band played their encore during the sideways rain last night as part of the Greene Music Series in Fort Greene Park. Though the show started bright and sunny with DJ Todd-O-Phonic Todd and a performance from Beans (of Anti-Pop Consortium), it grew darker/more ominous by the time the soul crooner took the stage around 7:45PM. Video of the rainy encore and more pictures from the mostly-dry show are below.

Charles Bradley was fresh off a July 21st appearance on Jay Leno where he helped The Tonight Show's bandleader Rickey Minor pay tribute to Marvin Gaye by performing "What's Going On" with Grace Potter, Sharon Jones, and The Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles. Video from that appearance is also below. Charles' other recent accomplishments include covering Nirvana for SPIN's new Nevermind tribute album.

The show was one of two scheduled for Beans in the past week. He opened for Buck 65 at Bowery Ballroom a few days earlier.

Charles & The Menahan Street Band continue on tour this summer. Their festival-filled schedule includes Osheaga, Outside Lands, Bumbershoot, MusicFestNW, Austin City Limits, and POPPED!, all before they head to Europe.

An updated set of tour dates, video from Leno, and more pictures & video from Fort Greene below...

Booker T. Jones released The Road From Memphis earlier this month (5/10 via Anti-) with a notable list of guest artists. The Roots act as Jones' backing band on the album, and Matt Berninger of The National, Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, Lou Reed, and Sharon Jones all provide guest vocals. The album is produced by Jones, Questlove, and Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliot Smith), and was recorded by Gabriel Roth of Daptone Records.

Booker T plays The Bell House in Brooklyn tonight (5/24). The Bo-Keys, who were originally listed as an opener, no longer seem to be on the show though. The show is instead being opened by DJ Toddophonic Todd. Tickets are still on sale.

The Brooklyn show is one of his few this summer. All tour dates, a video, a Tiny Desk concert, the album tracklist and more, below....

Lee's last show was another sold out affair on Friday, April 1st at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band...

"Bradley left everything he had out on the stage in about 45 minutes and was promptly relieved by headliner Fields, with the Menahan Street Band staying put and subbing for Fields' usual backing group, the Expressions. Looking like a pint-sized Lou Rawls, veteran singer Fields ably continued the retro-exploration into Daptone's dictionary of journeyman soul. As with Bradley, Fields is an older fellow influenced by the torchy, balladic nature of artists like James Brown and Bobby Womack as well as Al Green and the Hi Records crew." [Magnet]

Charles Bradley heads out on tour later this month with instrumental group the Budos Band, who don't have any NYC-area shows scheduled, but who are on the bill of the (gulp) "Dave Matthews Band Caravan" festival taking place in Atlantic City from June 24-26 with The Flaming Lips, Delta Spirit, Dr. Dog and many more.

On a somewhat related note, the funky saxophone great and member of The JB's, Maceo Parker, will play SOB's on May 18th. Tickets are on sale. The show is one of two scheduled for Parker in NYC. He'll also play a FREE show at One Brooklyn Bridge Park on May 12th with DJ Spinna.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Maceo "Funk Dance Party" is the first in a 3-part series of free 'Celebrate Brooklyn' dance parties at the location. May 19th's "Tropical Dance Party" will feature La Excelencia & Que Bajo?!, and May 26th's "Bhangra Dance Party" will feature Red Baraat & DJ Rekha. They promise "Sweeping views, great lawn, dance lessons, beer garden, bike valet & it's free! Three spring evenings featuring some of the coolest dance bands on the planet, the funkiest DJs under the stars, and the greatest view in the world!"

The full lineup of Charles's Southpaw show also includes the Menahan Street Band, "The Electric Sound Of Johnny Arrow" featuring Cochemea Gastelum, DJ Honeydripper, DJ Dave Griffith. Members of the Menahan Street Band also play in The Del Reys who play with Eli Paperboy Reedat Brooklyn Bowl TONIGHT (1/12). Spiritkid is also on the Finger on the Pulse-presented "Soul Bowl" show. Tickets are still on sale.

Charles Bradley recently posted a video for "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)", check out a behind the scenes video for that clip below and look for a longer version to appear on his Facebook later this week.

The Budos Band (who also share members with Menahan Street Band and The Del Reys) have various US tour dates scheduled through June. The band plays NYC again on March 11th at The Bell House. Tickets are on sale.

"The disarming warmth of the Dap Kings' homegrown sound translated well in the 2,100-capacity venue. Against the usual Dap Kings backdrop of bright horns and funky percussion, Jones sustained her boundless energy level for much of the two-hour performance. At one point, she even kicked off her high heels and summoned African ancestors for a shamanistic dance medley.

The band was fully synchronized from the opening number, the slinky ballad "If You Call" to a propulsive rhythmic buildup for an encore rendition of "100, Days, 100 Nights." Some of the night's finer moments, of course, alluded to economic hardships. The horn stabs of "Money" and "No Chimmeys in the Projects" carried a raw sense of urgency, while Jones cracked, "Ain't nothin' evil about money because we neeeeed that money." After a suitably cool take on "Auld Lang Syne," Jones pushed herself vocally to wring a double meaning from "Better Things."

"I've got better things to do than remember you," Jones sang. Puffs of fog machine smoke framed her band as balloons and confetti filled the room.

Warming up for Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings was New Orleans songwriter Allen Toussaint.

"There's no place I'd rather be tonight. I really mean it," Mr. Toussaint said." [Soul Train]

Charles Bradley is no stranger to hard times. Born in Gainesville, Florida in 1948 and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he spent the better part of his childhood living on the streets. One of the more optimistic moments of his childhood came in 1964, when his sister took him to see James Brown at The Apollo. Brown's energy and showmanship would form a lasting impression on Charles. He went home and immediately began practicing microphone tricks with a broom attached to a string, imitating the Godfather's every move.

Forty years later, Charles was still trying to make ends meet, still trying to make it as a musician. He was performing his James Brown routines under his alter ego "Black Velvet" when Gabriel Roth of Daptone records happened upon his show at the Tarheel Lounge in Bedstuy. Roth recognized his raw talent and directly brought him into the studio for a session with The Sugarman 3.

No Time for Dreaming (the LP) will be celebrated at a Record Release show with Menahan Street Band (mems of Antibalas, El Michels Affair, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the Budos Band) at Southpaw on January 25th, 2011. Tickets are on sale.

A soulful New Years Eve can also be had outside of Manhattan at the Bell House thanks to Dig Deeper who are bringing Marva Whitney, Billy Prince (of the Precisions) and the Sweet Divines to the Brooklyn venue that night.Tickets are still on sale.

Lee Fields headlined the show at Music Hall of Williamsburg Saturday night (11/20), and with Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band also on the bill, it's no surprise that they reportedly turned away over 100 people at the door of the sold out Brooklyn show. Luckily for those that didn't get in, Lee Fields will return to the stage on January 7th, but this time at MHOW's Manhattan sister Bowery Ballroom. Stay tuned for more details like tickets and openers.

The Budos Band have a few shows coming up too, one of which is the release party for their new album ("The Budos Band III") at Southpaw in Brooklyn on September 18th. Tickets for that show are on sale. All dates below.

And last but not least, Daptone's Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens can still be found at Fat Cat every Friday night, and have some upcoming tour dates including Pop Montreal in October. All dates for everyone, below...

"Wow...just wow. I don't know why it took me so long to experience the stunning Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, but lawdy, I'm sure glad I went to the concert that closed out a great summer of Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Prospect Park Bandshell and finally got to witness the phenomenon that she is. Sharon Jones blew my mind with her energy, singing, dancing -- you name it, she was a solid gold MVP, James Brown heir-apparent. For 2+ hours, she and her stellar bandmates (including members of the Bushwick Philharmonic) kept the [very large] crowd on their feet, grooving along to a wonderful retro-soul/funk sound that did not let up. She was also assisted on a few songs by the charming Lee Fields." [Qbertplaya]

If there's one show I regret missing by going out of town this past weekend, it was definitely the Daptone one in Prospect Park. More pictures and videos from Sharon Jones's Saturday night free Celebrate Brooklyn show (The Budos Band opened up the night), below...

The new disc, Together, comes out May 4th, and their first show after its release (which comes more than a month before their other North American shows) will happen on May 6th at Woodstock, NY's 250-seat Bearsville Theater (about 2 hour drive north of NYC). Tickets are on sale now.

Together's first single is posted again above. The second, "The Crash Years," is available on iTunes. There's also a series of listening parties in various cities (NYC TBA) for the record coming up. More info on those, all tour dates and a new video with actor Adam Goldberg interviewing members of the band (and album guests Zach Condon, Will Sheff and Daptone's Neal Sugarman) are below...

Their labelmates Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, whose new record out debuted at #15 on the Billboard chart this week, will be playing two sold-out Apollo Theater shows, on April 30th and May 1st. Leading up to that, catch the band on late-night TV - their schedule, their video for single "I Learned the Hard Way" (which opens with Lee Fields) and all Budos' summer tour dates are below...

The Budos Band are playing at Maxwell's on January 15th (tickets) and Southpaw on January 16th, for a show that also includes the Nouvellas and DJs Chances With Wolves (featuring Mark Ronson) (tickets).